Shattered Childhood

The scene shifts to 1945, right after the end of World War II. A tense silence filled the air of the small doctor's office. The man, a war-torn veteran with haunted eyes, sat beside his pregnant wife. The remnants of battle still clung to him—the ghost of death and destruction, the weight of countless lives taken. His hands, rough and calloused, clutched his wife's trembling ones as they waited.

The doctor, Dr. Miyaki Suzuki, finally emerged from the examination room. His face, usually a mask of professional detachment, was pale and strained, his eyes flicking nervously between the couple.

Dr. Suzuki: (cautiously) "Mr. and Mrs. Saigeru, the results… they're complicated."

The man's grip tightened on his wife's hand, the tension in the room thickening.

Mr. Saigeru: (demanding) "What do you mean, complicated?"

Dr. Suzuki hesitated, swallowing hard before continuing.

Dr. Suzuki: (softly) "Your child… there are signs of abnormalities, likely due to the radiation exposure from Hiroshima. It's a miracle she survived this far, but... the damage is severe. I'm afraid… there's no telling what she'll become."

The wife's face crumpled in despair, tears spilling down her cheeks. The man's jaw clenched, a mixture of rage and helplessness swirling within him.

Mr. Saigeru: (shouting) "No! She will be perfect! You're wrong!"

But even as he shouted, a dark fear crept into his heart. He knew what the doctor was implying—that his daughter was a mistake, a twisted product of war, a reminder of the horrors he had fought so hard to escape.

The doctor, uncomfortable and desperate to leave, handed them the ultrasound pictures—a blurry, distorted image of what should have been their joy, now a source of dread.

Dr. Suzuki: (sympathetically) "We'll do everything we can, but… prepare yourselves."

As the couple left the clinic, the man's resolve hardened. He swore then that he would protect his daughter from the world, even if it meant hiding her away, even if it meant facing the demons of his past all over again.

…

Months turned into weeks as we would transition to 4 years after Kairi was born, her parents would walk into her room as they yelled and shouted at her for doing whatever in the house.

Kairi would look upset as she didn't do anything other than be herself at home.

Meanwhile in the parents' room, they began to argue about whatever before locking the door—more arguing which subsided; converting to heavy moaning as Daigo and Naomi would proceed in committing to having unprotected sex, after some hours, Naomi asked Daigo if he at least used a condom during their session.

Daigo: (ignorant) "Why would I have to wear a fucking condom, when you are my wife.. and besides this is my fucking home got it damnit."

Naomi: (angry) "you fucking dickwad, here we go with this bullshit, you are ridiculous.. [calming down] at least we can maybe turn our life around after that mistake of a child we got."

Naomi and Daigo would chuckle a bit before changing into their pajamas—walking to their daughter's room.

Daigo: (yelling) "Kairi, Wake Up."

Kairi would wake up, confused to why her parents are in her room.

Naomi: (disgusted) "You dare give your mother that face?" [She would whack Kairi in the face with the belt, causing Daigo to do the same by slamming his fists to beat Kairi with no remorse as he knocked her out.]

…

A couple hours later, Kairi would slowly regain consciousness, however her face was bruised—as she had a black eye on her right side, a couple missing teeth and a gash on her nose from that.

Kairi: (scared, while on the verge of tears) "why am I the one who gets hurt the most.. I don't get it..I might just be a worthless pest in their eyes.."

…

Kairi's light gray hair, once a symbol of the carefree days of her childhood, had become a stark reminder of the burdens she now carried. At just 17, her life was anything but ordinary. The transformation in her appearance mirrored the turmoil within—a girl forced to grow up too soon, left to fend for herself in a world that seemed determined to break her spirit.

The once close-knit Saigeru family had become a distant memory. Kairi's parents were never around, consumed by their careers and social lives, leaving her to manage everything. Her younger siblings, oblivious to the weight on her shoulders, clung to her as their only source of stability. But the facade Kairi maintained was beginning to crack.

School was no escape. If anything, it was another battlefield. Whispers followed her down the hallways, snide comments and cruel laughter that cut deeper than any blade. Her light gray hair, once admired, now made her a target. "Look at the freak," they'd jeer, their voices dripping with venom. "What happened to your hair, Kairi? Too much stress? Or did you just want to look like a ghost?"

Kairi would lower her gaze, biting back the tears that threatened to spill. She couldn't let them see her break. Not here. Not ever.

But the worst betrayal came from the one person she thought she could trust—Ryuu, the boy she had quietly admired from afar. He was charming, kind, and everything she believed she needed in her life. For a brief moment, she thought he might actually see her, not the rumors or the whispers, but her. When he smiled at her in class, when their eyes met across the room, she let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't alone in this hell.

That hope shattered the day she found out the truth. It was after school when she overheard Ryuu laughing with his friends. "Kairi? Nah, man, she's just a joke. Did you really think I'd be into someone like her? I was just messing with her for a bit of fun."

Her heart froze, her world crumbling around her. The laughter felt like knives slicing through her, each word a deeper cut. She turned and walked away, her hands trembling, the tears she had held back for so long finally spilling over. The pain in her chest was unbearable, like her heart was being ripped apart from the inside. But the moment she reached home, she wiped her eyes and put on a mask of indifference. No one could know. She had to stay strong.

Home, once a place of comfort, had become a prison. Her parents, when they were around, were cold and distant. But lately, the distance had turned to outright hostility. The once loving words had become harsh, the occasional disagreements now full-blown fights. "You're useless, Kairi," her mother would hiss, the disdain in her voice like poison. "All you do is bring shame to this family. You can't even take care of your siblings properly."

Her father wasn't any better. "Why do you think we leave you alone all the time? We can't stand being around you. You're a burden, Kairi. You always have been."

Kairi would just stand there, numb, as the words washed over her. She had no fight left in her. All she could do was endure, to survive. But deep down, a fire was starting to burn—a fierce, raging anger that she kept buried, afraid of what might happen if it ever broke free.

Late at night, when the house was silent and her siblings were asleep, Kairi would stare at her reflection in the mirror. The girl looking back at her was a stranger—pale, with lifeless gray hair, and eyes that once sparkled now dull and hollow. "This is what they made you," she would whisper to herself, her voice trembling with a mixture of rage and despair. "This is what you've become."

But she wasn't ready to give up. Not yet. Somewhere inside her, beneath the pain and the betrayal, was a glimmer of defiance. "I won't let them break me," she whispered, her voice growing stronger. "I'll make them regret everything. One day, they'll see what I'm capable of."

And with that, Kairi steeled herself for what was to come. The world might have turned its back on her, but she wasn't going to let it destroy her. She'd fight back, no matter what it took. She wasn't the weak, broken girl they thought she was. She was something much, much more dangerous.

The next day, the air at the school was thick with tension. Kairi walked through the halls with her usual mask of indifference, but inside, her mind was a storm of emotions. Ryuu's betrayal had cut deeper than she thought possible, but she refused to let it show. She wouldn't give him—or anyone else—the satisfaction of seeing her crumble.

As she approached her locker, Kairi noticed a group of girls lingering nearby, whispering amongst themselves. There was something off about the way they watched her, their eyes glinting with a mix of malice and anticipation. At the center of the group was Haruka, a girl who had always been shy and quiet, blending into the background with her glasses and neat, prim appearance. Kairi had barely noticed her before, but now Haruka's gaze was fixed on her with a strange intensity.

Kairi hesitated, but before she could react, the girls had surrounded her, blocking her escape. "What do you want?" Kairi asked, her voice steady, though her heart was pounding.

Haruka stepped forward, her expression cold and calculating. Gone was the shy, bookish girl; in her place was someone Kairi barely recognized—someone who seemed hungry for power. "You thought you could get away with it, didn't you?" Haruka's voice was quiet but laced with venom. "You thought you could take everything from me."

Kairi frowned, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Ryuu," Haruka spat, her eyes narrowing. "You thought you could have him, that he'd choose someone like you over me."

Realization dawned on Kairi, and a bitter laugh escaped her lips. "You think I wanted him? He's nothing but a coward."

That was the wrong thing to say. Haruka's face twisted with rage. "You bitch!" she screamed, before lunging at Kairi, her fists swinging wildly. The other girls joined in, shoving Kairi back until she hit the wall with a sickening thud.

Before Kairi could recover, Haruka's fist slammed into her stomach with brutal force. The pain was immediate and intense, knocking the breath out of her. Kairi doubled over, gasping for air, but Haruka didn't relent. She jabbed at Kairi's midsection again and again, each blow more vicious than the last.

"Stop it!" Kairi choked out, but her voice was weak, barely audible over the sound of her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Haruka's face was a mask of hatred as she grabbed Kairi by the hair, yanking her head up to meet her gaze. "You don't get to speak!" she snarled before driving her knee into Kairi's stomach. The force of the blow sent Kairi to the ground, where she curled up, trying to protect herself from the relentless assault.

The other girls were laughing now, egging Haruka on as she continued to kick and punch Kairi, who was too weak to fight back. "Look at her," one of them sneered. "The mighty Kairi, brought down to nothing."

Haruka crouched down next to Kairi, grabbing her by the chin and forcing her to look up. "You're pathetic," she whispered, her voice dripping with disdain. "You think you're so strong, but you're just a scared little girl. No one will ever love you. No one will ever care."

Kairi's vision was blurring, the edges of her consciousness starting to fade. She wanted to fight back, to scream, but her body refused to respond. The pain was too much, and her strength was gone.

Satisfied that she had broken Kairi, Haruka delivered one final, brutal punch to her face. The world spun, and everything went black.

When Kairi regained consciousness, she was lying on the cold, hard floor of the empty classroom. The girls were gone, leaving her battered and bruised, alone with the crushing weight of her defeat. Her body ached with every movement, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the deep, searing humiliation that burned within her.

She struggled to her feet, swaying slightly as the room tilted around her. Blood trickled from her nose and a cut on her lip, and her stomach throbbed with each shallow breath. Kairi stumbled to the window, leaning against the sill for support as she looked out at the schoolyard below, where life went on as if nothing had happened.

As she stood there, watching the students laughing and talking like they didn't have a care in the world, Kairi's resolve hardened. She had been humiliated, beaten down, and left for dead. But she was still here, still breathing, still alive.

"I'll make them pay," she whispered, her voice raw and filled with a new kind of determination. "I'll make them all pay."

At that moment, something inside Kairi shifted. The light in her eyes, once dull and lifeless, now burned with a cold, unyielding fire. She would survive this. She would rise from the ashes of her broken self, stronger and more dangerous than anyone could imagine.

…

That night, Kairi sat alone in her room, the silence pressing in around her like a suffocating blanket. The bruises on her body throbbed with every heartbeat, a painful reminder of the brutal beating she had endured earlier that day. Her mind replayed the events over and over, each memory sharpening the blade of her anger until it cut through her very soul.

The room was dark, save for the dim light of the small desk lamp that cast long, eerie shadows across the walls. Kairi's reflection in the cracked mirror on the dresser was almost unrecognizable—swollen, bloodied lips, one eye nearly swollen shut, and a band of dark bruises across her cheeks. But it wasn't the physical damage that had changed her; it was something much deeper, something that had finally snapped inside her.

"They'll all pay," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of pain and resolve. Her reflection stared back at her, and for the first time, she didn't see a victim. She saw something far more dangerous—someone who had nothing left to lose.

Kairi reached into the drawer of her desk and pulled out an old, leather-bound notebook. It had once been a place for her to jot down thoughts and dreams, but those days were long gone. Now, it would serve a darker purpose. She flipped open to a blank page and grabbed a pen, the ink a deep, unforgiving black.

At the top of the page, she scrawled a single word in jagged, angry letters: REVENGE.

She took a deep breath, her hand steady as she began to write the names of those who had wronged her, one by one. The pen dug into the paper with each stroke, as if the very act of writing their names was an act of violence. Haruka was the first name on the list, underlined twice. Her tormentor, her betrayer. The one who had dared to lay hands on her and break what little was left of her spirit.

Then came the others—each girl who had laughed, who had stood by and watched, who had added their own cruelty to Kairi's suffering. They were all there, written in bold, unforgiving ink. But it didn't stop with them. The list grew longer as Kairi wrote the names of everyone who had ever hurt her, everyone who had taken a piece of her soul and left her hollow. The teachers who ignored her pain, the classmates who turned a blind eye, even her own family—everyone who had contributed to the dark pit of despair she found herself in.

As the list filled the page, a twisted sense of satisfaction began to bloom in Kairi's chest. This was her plan, her way out. She would reclaim her power by taking it from those who had taken everything from her. The thought of watching the life drain from their eyes, of feeling their fear as they realized too late that they had created their own monster, filled her with a cold, burning resolve.

When the list was complete, Kairi leaned back in her chair, staring at the names. "You did this to me," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the oppressive silence of the room. "You all did this to me. And now, I'm going to make sure you never hurt anyone else again."

Her gaze drifted to the black hoodie draped over the back of her chair—a hoodie she had bought months ago but never worn. It was thick, heavy, and would easily hide her bruises, her face, and her identity. Kairi reached out, running her fingers over the fabric, feeling the weight of it in her hands. This was who she would become: a shadow, a wraith in the night, bringing retribution to those who had dared to wrong her.

She slipped the hoodie on, pulling the hood over her head and tightening the strings until only her eyes were visible. The reflection that stared back at her from the mirror was no longer a broken, beaten girl. It was a harbinger of death, a bringer of vengeance.

Kairi clenched her fists, her heart beating steadily with the rhythm of her newfound purpose. "I will kill as many as I need to," she vowed, her voice strong and unwavering. "I'll bring this world to its knees, and I'll start with you, Haruka."

The next day, Kairi waited, biding her time. She moved through the school like a ghost, unnoticed and unseen. No one paid attention to her anymore—they had moved on, confident in their belief that she was defeated, broken beyond repair.

But they were wrong.

As the school day drew to a close, Kairi followed Haruka and her group of bullies, her black hoodie blending into the shadows as she trailed them from a distance. Her breath was calm, her steps silent. The list was burning in her pocket, a reminder of the blood she was ready to spill. This was it. The first step in her plan to make the world pay for what it had done to her.

And when the moment was right, when they were alone, and no one was around to hear their screams, Kairi would strike.

But for now, she watched, waiting, the darkness within her growing with every passing second.

As they were finally alone, Kairi would reveal herself as she put down the hood on the hoodie, causing Haruka and her gang of bullies to notice Kairi.

Haruka: (cocky) "What's wrong, Kairi.. still begging for more, though I think you need to be taught a lesson about manners and time management."

Kairi would stare at them, quietly as she eyed the bullies who were deciding on what they were wanting to do.

Haruka: (still cocky) "Rika, Sakura.. you two handle her for me..while we wait."

Rika: (enraged) "You should've just stayed quiet and listened to Haruka."

Sakura: (wicked smile) "I want to crush her bones and watch her thrive in pain…"

Kairi stood there silently, as she watched Sakura and Rika dash straight at her, as they would strike at her but Kairi managed to block their attacks.

Kairi: (sadistic smile) "Are You Done Yet?"

Sakura: (Angered) "Don't you mock me, you bitch—."

As Sakura tried to strike at Kairi—she felt something that stabbed through her stomach, ripping her guts out of her body—leaving Sakura spitting out blood and succumbing to her severe injuries.

Rika: (enraged) "How dare you, killing my best friend… I WILL KILL YOU,BITCH.."

Rika would run straight at Kairi, ready to direct her fist into Kairi's jaw but it looked like Kairi was ready for it as she licked the very blood from her knife and rubbed it on Sakura's dead body before placing it on her.

Kairi would warm herself up, as she sprinted at Rika and slammed her on the hard part of the sink—causing her to spit out blood, but Kairi wasn't finished as she stomped Rika out in a brutal fashion—as a piece of her brain matter was stuck on Kairi's boot, causing her to take it off of the boot and flick it at Haruka's Forehead.

The rest of Haruka's Group would try to rush Kairi but their fates were ultimately sealed— as blood, guts, hearts and brain matter would cover the end of the bathroom, making Haruka vomit and cry about it.

Haruka: (angered) "I HATE YOU, YOU MUST DIE FOR THIS…RYUU SHOULD'VE NEVER MET YOU..—"

Haruka's anger would be turned into shock as she felt blood rushing down her face, before realizing that mid sentence, Kairi threw the same knife that she killed Sakura with and made it hit her head—causing Haruka to collapse to the ground, dead.

Kairi would begin to feel nothing for her victims, as she started laughing sadistically—about this revelation.

As She left the bathroom, she began to feel nothing but darkness—similar to a cold sweat that you would have even within a nightmarish landscape.

…

A Teacher walked inside the bathroom, as they would scream at the site of dead students—causing them to tell the principal quickly as a result, they contacted the police and the parents of the students they were able to identify with ease.

As Kairi arrived home from school earlier than usual, causing her parents to yell at her for being here as well as ditching school.

Kairi would walk away—but her father pulled her arm, yanking her back to face him.

Daigo: (angry) "You were always a mistake." 

Kairi: (shouting) "What if I wasn't a mistake and it was your fault for that…"

Kairi tried walking away, but her father would lift her up by the collar before slamming his fist in her—causing her mother to kick her into the basement of the house.

…

She would fall down the stairs and seethe in great pain—as she tried to get up slowly, but passed out like she lost her drive to get up.

She stood on unsteady legs, her body a fragile shell barely holding together. Every inch of her was screaming—her ribs throbbing, her head pounding, her skin bruised and raw—but the physical pain was nothing compared to the darkness inside her. That void, that emptiness, had been there for as long as she could remember, swallowing every shred of hope, every flicker of light, until there was nothing left but darkness.

Her life had always been this way—abuse layered upon abuse, each scar a reminder of what she was worth: nothing. She couldn't even remember a time when it was different. The days bled together in a blur of pain, humiliation, and despair, until she couldn't distinguish one from the other. It was all the same, every moment a reminder of her failures, her inadequacies, her utter lack of value.

What's the point? The thought echoed in her mind, relentless and cold. What's the point of any of this? She knew the answer before she even finished asking the question. There was no point. Her life was a never-ending cycle of suffering, each day another page in a story written in blood and tears. A story no one would ever read, no one would ever care about. A story that didn't matter.

You're broken, her thoughts whispered, their voice harsh and unforgiving. You've always been broken, and you'll never be whole. You'll never be anything but this—weak, useless, a burden.

She wanted to argue, to push back against the voices, but she was too tired. Too beaten down by years of relentless abuse and torment. Every time she'd tried to fight, to stand up for herself, it had ended the same way—with her on the floor, battered and broken, the small flicker of defiance snuffed out under the weight of his fists, his words, his control.

You can't fight this, her thoughts taunted her. You can't win. Just give up. Let it happen. You're nothing. You've always been nothing.

Her life was a series of failures—failed attempts to escape, failed attempts to please him, failed attempts to find something, anything, that would make her feel like she was worth more than this. But every time she thought she'd found a way out, he'd pull her back, tighter and tighter, until she couldn't breathe. Until she couldn't see a way out anymore. Until she was convinced that there wasn't one.

Why do you even try? The question circled in her mind, a cruel reminder of her reality. What's the point of trying when you know how it ends? When you know that this is all there is?

The truth was, she didn't try anymore. She just went through the motions, day after day, existing rather than living, because it was easier that way. Easier to accept the abuse, the trauma, the endless spiral of depression, than to hope for something better. Hope was dangerous, a luxury she couldn't afford. Hope had done nothing but hurt her, time and time again.

This is all you are, her thoughts whispered. This is all you'll ever be.

She felt the tears prickling at her eyes but swallowed them down. Crying wouldn't help. Crying was weakness, and she couldn't afford to be weak—not any weaker than she already was. She had to keep going, keep pretending, keep surviving. Because that's all she knew how to do.

Survive.

But as she looked around the dimly lit room, the silence pressing in on her, she wondered what she was even surviving for. What was the point of clinging to a life that had been nothing but suffering, nothing but abuse? What was the point of living when every breath was another reminder of how broken she was, how utterly lost she had become?

Maybe it would be better if it just ended. The thought was there, sudden and chilling, but it wasn't new. It had lingered in the back of her mind for years, growing stronger with each passing day. Each beating, each insult, each soul-crushing moment of despair had fed it, nurtured it, until it felt like the only real option left.

Maybe it would be easier…

She shoved the thought away, her heart racing, but it clung to her, wrapping itself around her mind like a vice. No. She couldn't think like that. She couldn't let herself go there. Not yet. She still had to clean up, had to make everything look normal, had to pretend that everything was fine.

Pretend. The word tasted bitter on her tongue, a lie she'd told herself so many times it had almost become true. Almost.

But deep down, she knew it wasn't. Nothing was fine. Nothing would ever be fine again. And maybe, just maybe, it never had been.

…

Kairi would began to laugh satirically as she thought about ways to murder her parents but decided to wait at night before she could strike.

Kairi paced around her room, her mind racing with dark thoughts. The anticipation of what she was planning gave her a twisted sense of excitement, but she knew she had to be patient. She glanced at the clock on her wall, its ticking almost mocking her as the night crept closer.

Sitting down on the edge of her bed, Kairi began to plan every detail in her mind. She knew her parents' routines, their habits, and their weaknesses. Daigo was always the last to go to bed, staying up late to finish his work. Naomi, on the other hand, retired earlier, preferring to read in bed until she drifted off. Kairi would have to strike at just the right moment when they were both vulnerable.

She thought about the tools she would need, the way she would move silently through the house, and the look on their faces when they realized what was happening. A cold smile curled on her lips as she imagined their shock, their fear. But she had to be careful; there could be no mistakes.

The thought of waiting any longer gnawed at her, but she knew it was necessary. Rushing would only lead to failure, and she couldn't afford that. Not now. Not when she was so close.

Kairi decided to distract herself for the time being, pulling out her sketchbook from under the bed. She began to draw, her hand moving almost automatically across the paper, creating dark, chaotic images that mirrored the turmoil inside her. The drawings brought her some sense of calm, a way to channel the storm inside her until the time was right.

She could hear the faint sounds of her parents in the other room, their voices low and indistinct. Kairi closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Soon, she told herself. Very soon, everything would change. But for now, she had to wait.

Naomi pushed the door open wider, stepping into Kairi's room despite the girl's earlier dismissal. Her expression had shifted from one of feigned concern to something colder, harder. 

"You've been locking yourself in here too much lately," Naomi said, her voice laced with irritation. "What are you even doing in here all day? Plotting how to waste more of our time and money?"

Kairi's grip on her pencil tightened, but she kept her voice even. "I'm just drawing, Mom. It helps me relax."

"Relax?" Naomi scoffed, crossing her arms. "Maybe if you weren't such a disappointment, you wouldn't need to 'relax' so much. You think we have time for your silly little drawings? You should be doing something useful for once."

Kairi forced herself to remain silent, swallowing the retort that threatened to escape. She'd learned long ago that talking back only made things worse.

From down the hall, Daigo's voice boomed. "Naomi! What are you doing in there? The girl's worthless. Just leave her and get back here."

Naomi threw one last disdainful look at Kairi before turning on her heel. "You heard him. Stay out of our way, or you'll regret it."

As the door slammed shut, Kairi's calm facade cracked. She could feel the anger bubbling up inside her, threatening to spill over. But instead of lashing out, she channeled it into her drawing, the lines on the page growing darker, more violent.

"Stay out of their way," she muttered bitterly to herself, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. "Soon, I'll make sure you never have to worry about me again."

The sounds of Daigo and Naomi's voices arguing down the hall grew louder, their usual nightly routine. Naomi had probably complained about Kairi taking too long to respond, and Daigo would be quick to agree, adding his own harsh words into the mix. 

"You're worthless!" Daigo's voice carried through the walls. "You don't deserve anything we've given you. All you do is sulk and draw those stupid pictures like some kind of freak."

Kairi's pencil snapped again, but this time she didn't care. She threw the broken pieces aside, breathing heavily as she fought to regain control. 

"They don't deserve anything I've given them either," she whispered to herself, a cold smile forming on her lips. "But soon, they'll get what's coming to them."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing the anger to settle into a dangerous calm. The night wasn't over yet, but she knew it would be soon enough. For now, she would wait. And when the time was right, she would strike.

Kairi lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, trying to drown out the sounds coming from her parents' bedroom. She knew what was happening behind that closed door. It was a routine she had become all too familiar with—first the arguments, then the soft, almost loving voices that followed. The sudden switch from hatred to affection always left her feeling cold and hollow.

Through the thin walls, she could hear their voices, muffled but clear enough to make out the sickening mix of intimacy and cruelty.

"Can you believe her?" Naomi's voice came first, laced with a mix of disdain and amusement. "She just sulks around here, never doing anything. It's pathetic."

Daigo's voice followed, low and rough. "She's not even worth the effort we put into her. Mio and Ren—they're good kids. They actually deserve what we give them. But her? She's just a waste of space."

Kairi felt a sharp pang in her chest, the familiar sting of their words digging deep. She had heard it all before, but it never hurt any less. It wasn't just their hatred that cut her; it was the way they could be so tender with each other, so loving with Mio and Ren, and yet so utterly devoid of any warmth toward her.

As the conversation continued, their words became more indistinct, but Kairi could still feel the venom in their tone. She knew what was coming next—the shift from words to actions, the way they would turn on each other in that twisted, intimate way that made her sick to her stomach.

"She'll never amount to anything," Daigo growled, his voice thick with disdain. "If it weren't for the other two, I'd have thrown her out years ago."

Naomi's laughter followed, light and cruel. "Oh, I know. But don't think about her now, Daigo. She's not worth it."

Kairi squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the sounds that followed—the heavy breathing, the whispered endearments, the sickeningly sweet words that they would never use on her. It was like listening to two different people—these were not the parents who spat venom at her, who belittled her every chance they got. No, this was the version of them that only Mio and Ren got to see—the loving, affectionate couple who doted on their golden children.

But Kairi knew the truth. She knew how quickly they could turn, how easily their love could become cruelty, and how deep their hatred for her ran.

She bit down on her lip until she tasted blood, the pain helping to ground her in the moment, to keep her from spiraling into the dark thoughts that threatened to consume her. She had to stay strong, had to keep her wits about her. She couldn't let them break her—not when she was so close to being free of them.

And she wouldn't let them ruin Mio and Ren, either. Her siblings didn't deserve to be trapped in this toxic house any more than she did. They were innocent, still unaware of the true nature of their parents. Kairi had made a vow to herself that she would get them out, that she would find a way to make sure they never had to endure the kind of torment she faced every day.

But she couldn't do that yet. She had to wait, had to bide her time until she was strong enough to take action. Until then, she would endure the nightly ritual, the sickening juxtaposition of cruelty and love that filled this house with an unbearable tension.

"They'll be safe," she whispered to herself, the words barely audible over the sounds coming from the next room. "When this is all over, I'll make sure they're safe."

As she lay there, forcing herself to stay calm, Kairi began to plot once again. She thought about the future, about the day when Mio and Ren would be old enough to leave, when she could tell them the truth and protect them from the darkness that lurked behind their parents' loving facade.

But for now, all she could do was wait. Wait and listen as her parents turned from abusers to lovers, from tormentors to doting partners, all while they kept her trapped in their twisted game. And in the silence of her room, Kairi promised herself that one day, this nightmare would end—one way or another.

…

Kairi sat on the edge of her bed, her hands folded neatly in her lap. The distant sounds of her parents' voices had finally died down, leaving the house in an eerie silence. For a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the quiet, the calm before the inevitable storm that was always brewing within her. 

She stared at the wall in front of her, at the shadows that danced across it as the wind outside stirred the trees. Normally, these small, quiet moments were the only times she felt any semblance of peace. But tonight, something was different. The usual calm she sought felt hollow, as though a void had opened up inside her, swallowing everything else.

She could feel it—the darkness creeping in around the edges of her mind, filling the spaces where her usual emotions should be. It wasn't sudden; it was a gradual shift, like the slow descent of nightfall, the way the light fades so gradually that you hardly notice until the world is cloaked in shadow.

Kairi clenched her fists in her lap, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to push the darkness back, but it was no use. It was already here, seeping into every corner of her mind, drowning out the light. 

Her breathing grew shallow as the thoughts began to race—thoughts she couldn't control, thoughts she had tried so hard to suppress. She thought of her parents, of the way they spoke about her, the way they looked at her with such disdain. She thought of Mio and Ren, their innocent faces unaware of the true horror that lurked beneath the surface of their perfect family. 

And then, she thought of herself—of the girl she used to be, before the darkness had taken hold. The girl who had once hoped for their love, who had once believed she could be enough. But that girl was gone now, replaced by someone else. Someone darker, colder.

She stood up slowly, her movements almost mechanical as she walked over to the mirror on the wall. She stared at her reflection, at the girl who looked back at her with eyes that were too hard, too empty for someone her age.

"This is who I am now," she whispered to herself, her voice devoid of any emotion. "This is what they've made me."

The girl in the mirror was a stranger to her, yet she knew her well. This was the part of herself she had kept hidden for so long, the part she had tried to deny. But there was no denying it now. The darkness was here, and it wasn't going away.

Her thoughts began to twist and warp, turning darker with every passing second. She thought of all the nights she had spent lying awake, plotting her revenge, imagining what it would be like to finally be free of them. Those thoughts used to scare her, used to make her feel guilty. But now, they brought a strange sense of satisfaction.

"They deserve it," she muttered, her reflection echoing the words back at her. "They deserve everything that's coming to them."

The darkness within her seemed to grow stronger, feeding off her anger, her hatred. It filled her with a sense of power she hadn't felt before, a power that made her feel invincible. She knew what she had to do—what she had always known, deep down. 

There was no going back now. The girl she used to be was gone, and the one who stood here now was ready to do whatever it took to end this nightmare.

Kairi turned away from the mirror, her face set in a cold, determined expression. She crossed the room in a few swift steps, her mind made up, her heart hardened. She reached for the door, her hand hovering over the knob for just a moment.

"This ends tonight," she whispered to herself, the words carrying a finality that left no room for doubt.

With that, she opened the door and stepped out of her room, leaving behind the last remnants of the girl she once was. The darkness had taken hold, and there was no turning back now.

…

Kairi would slowly walk downstairs as she found a pistol out in the open—on the counter, grabbing it and heading upstairs to her parents room, quietly.

Kairi: (calmly) "I'll finish them off, call the police and escape the house, however let me just do this.. [she would lock her sibling's doors from the outside]..alright…"

Kairi would traverse over to her parents' room, as she aimed the pistol in her father's face, as she shot him with zero remorse.

Naomi jolted awake, her heart racing as the deafening sound of the gunshot echoed through the room. The metallic scent of blood filled her nostrils as her eyes darted around, trying to make sense of the chaos. Her gaze fell on Daigo, or what was left of him. His face—once a picture of cruel authority—was now a mangled mess of blood and bone.

She screamed, scrambling back against the headboard, her eyes wide with shock and horror. And then she saw Kairi, standing at the foot of the bed, the gun still smoking in her hand, her face emotionless, cold.

"You...you little bitch!" Naomi's voice was a mix of terror and fury, her mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened. "You killed him! You fucking killed your father!"

Kairi's eyes narrowed as she stared at her mother, the weight of the gun in her hand grounding her in the present. "He deserved it," she replied, her voice steady, almost too calm. "You both do."

Naomi's shock quickly turned to rage, her face twisting into an expression of pure hatred. "You ungrateful little cunt! After everything we've done for you, this is how you repay us? You're a fucking mistake, Kairi. A fucking mistake that I should have gotten rid of a long time ago!"

Kairi's grip on the gun tightened, but her expression remained unchanged. "Everything you've done for me?" she echoed, her voice dripping with venom. "You mean the years of torment? The constant reminders that I was never good enough? The beatings, the insults, the way you treated Mio and Ren like they were gods while you made sure I knew I was nothing?"

Naomi's eyes blazed with fury as she lunged toward Kairi, but she stopped short when Kairi raised the gun, aiming it directly at her chest.

"You think you can scare me?" Naomi spat, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and rage. "You think you can fucking threaten me after everything? You're nothing without us, Kairi! You're worthless, a fucking parasite. I should have smothered you in your crib when I had the chance!"

Kairi's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't lower the gun. The darkness inside her had taken hold, and there was no going back now. "Do you even hear yourself?" she hissed, her voice trembling with the intensity of her emotions. "You've spent my entire life making sure I knew how much you hated me. You and Daigo—constantly reminding me that I was a mistake, that I was worthless. Well, now you know what it's like to feel helpless, to feel fear."

Naomi's breathing was ragged, her eyes darting between Kairi and the gun, weighing her options. "You think killing him will change anything?" she sneered. "You think it'll make you better than us? You're just as fucking twisted as we are, Kairi. Maybe even worse."

Kairi's lips curled into a cold, bitter smile. "Maybe I am," she admitted, her voice devoid of any warmth. "But at least I'm not pretending to be something I'm not. You—both of you—hid behind this facade of being perfect parents, loving each other while you tore me down every chance you got. I'm done pretending."

Naomi's eyes filled with a mixture of fear and fury as she realized the gravity of the situation, the finality of Kairi's words. "You'll fucking pay for this," she snarled, her voice laced with venom. "I'll make sure you rot in prison, you psychotic little bitch. I'll make your life a living hell—worse than anything you've ever known."

Kairi took a step closer, her eyes locked on her mother's. "You've already made my life hell," she said, her voice low, filled with a dark intensity. "There's nothing you can do to me that's worse than what you've already done. But you...you're going to live the rest of your miserable life knowing that I took him from you, that I broke your perfect little world. And when I'm done, you won't have anyone left."

Naomi's eyes widened, panic setting in as the full weight of Kairi's words sank in. "You're fucking insane," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Kairi didn't respond to Naomi, as she pointed the same pistol that she killed her own father with— at her mother, Naomi.

Naomi: (yelling) "YOU ARE A MISTAKE—A DAMNED ONE, YOU PACIFIST BITCH."

Kairi would begin to laugh at her mother's weeping face, as she shot her about 20 times in the chest and once in the head, showing her blood spilling out of her body like a faucet but covered in holes, brain matter and intestines spewing out of her body.

Kairi stood in the room, her mother's lifeless body at her feet, the air thick with the scent of blood and gunpowder. She looked down at her, her lips curling into a bitter smile as she wiped a splatter of blood from her cheek.

"Was I a mistake, Mother?" Kairi murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you think you could break me forever? That I would just lie down and take it?"

She stared at the gaping wounds in her mother's chest, the bullet holes in her head, the brain matter and intestines spilling out onto the floor. The image was grotesque, but Kairi felt nothing—only a cold, hollow satisfaction that it was finally over.

Kairi turned away, moving with an eerie calm as she walked down the hallway, leaving her parents' room behind. She knew what she had to do next. There was no time for hesitation, no room for doubt. She opened the door to her siblings' room and stepped inside, her heart heavy with the knowledge of what she was about to leave behind.

She knelt beside their beds, watching them sleep, their faces peaceful and unknowing. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling just a little. "I wish I could have saved you. But this… this is all I can do. I need to finish this."

She brushed a strand of hair from her sister's face, the tears she had been holding back finally spilling down her cheeks. "You'll be okay," she promised, though she knew it was a lie. "You'll be free of this, free of them."

With one last lingering look, she stood and walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind her. She moved quickly now, her mind focused on the task at hand. She picked up the phone in the living room and dialed the police, her voice steady as she gave them the address and told them what they would find.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly into the receiver before hanging up. It was all she could say. There was no going back now.

Kairi grabbed her coat and slipped out into the night, the cold air biting at her skin as she made her way through the dark streets. She walked with purpose, her footsteps echoing off the empty buildings as she approached her final destination.

The alleyway beside Ryuu's job was dimly lit, the shadows clinging to the walls like dark secrets. Kairi stood at the entrance, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts as she clutched the gun in her pocket. She had loved him once—so deeply it had consumed her. But that love had turned to ash in her mouth when he betrayed her, leaving her broken and scarred.

"This is it, Ryuu," she whispered, her voice carrying a deadly resolve. "You're next. You'll pay for what you did to me. For what you made me become."

She stepped into the alley, the darkness swallowing her whole as she set her sights on Ryuu's fate.

As Ryuu would yawn a bit before walking into the alleyway to throw away the trash that he was ordered to do.

Ryuu trudged into the dimly lit alley, yawning as he carelessly tossed the trash into a nearby bin. The alley was quiet, almost eerily so, and he barely noticed the faint sound of footsteps behind him. 

As he turned to leave, a figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking his path. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized Kairi, her expression cold and unforgiving.

"Kairi?" Ryuu stammered, taking a cautious step back. "What are you doing here?"

Kairi didn't answer right away. She took a step closer, her eyes narrowing as she spoke in a low, chilling tone, "Did you really think you could get away with it, Ryuu?"

He swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. "Get away with what? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me," Kairi snapped, her voice sharp and cutting. "You know exactly what you did, and now it's time to pay for it."

Ryuu's pulse quickened, panic creeping into his voice. "Kairi, wait... let's talk about this."

"There's nothing left to talk about," she said, taking another step forward, her intent clear in the dark glint of her eyes. "This is the end for you, Ryuu."

He backed away until his back hit the cold, unforgiving wall of the alley, nowhere left to run. "Please... you don't have to do this..."

Kairi's silence was the only answer he received as she closed the distance between them, ready to carry out what she came to do.

Kairi: (blank-faced) "…"

Ryuu: (panicking) "I'm sorry, that I made you feel this way..I really do, I understand that I made you feel this way, I really do.."

Kairi would stand there, unamused as she was sick of all the lies in the world—as she pulled him in for a kiss but instead—chose to slit his stomach with a glass shard that she found in her pocket, revealing his organs on the lower end.

Ryuu would vomit out his blood, before finally collapsing on the wall of the alleyway, dying.

Kairi: (sadistically) "May you rot in hell for eternity."

Kairi would pour gasoline on him—in order to use the lighter in order to light him on fire.

Kairi: (eyes deadlier; sadistic expression) "Goodbye my old life…, it was fun for awhile but now it'll be better to at least embrace this new life of crime.."

As She walked away from the burning corpse of Ryuu's, while not looking back and disappearing into the darkness..

…